Hello, My Family and I are waiting for our Visa following our TRA and sending off the police checks and medicals on the strength of my wifes occupation as a hair dresser. we have applied for a skilled sub class 136 visa but are in a big dilemma as to where to live. We originally thought Mandurah in WA but I'm concerned that its very expensive, not green enough (trees & hills) and may be to hot during the summer months. we enjoy the outdoor activities including mountain biking, hiking, water sports and skiing. We have looked at Tasmania (Hobart, Kingston) as the prices for housing are a lot lower and it seems very green, but whats the weather like I've heard lots of mixed reports, also whats the job situation like? I have now thought about New Zealand (Christchurch) but can you go there on an Australian visa as NZ seems to fit the bill, but again whats the weather like (we want to be able to swim in the sea without a wet suite) and the job situation. I'm an audio visual technician, will there be work for me? Even though it would cost a lot of money does anyone recommend we visit for a holiday, we thought about hiring a camper van and going from Perth down to Albany then along to Adelaide and finally to Tasmania but the cost of this would pay for they whole move
A final word, we like the UK purely as a country not the way it is ie.. booze Britain, crime, fuel prices, the government, and afew other things as well. England doesn't have a summer or any seasons just grey cloud.
Any info would be appreciated
Cheers Steven Clark
Last edited by steven9586; 09-01-2008 at 02:01 PM.
Hi Steve, We Are Now Considering Tasmania As The Property Is A Hell Of A Lot Cheaper And I Have Heard Great Things About It, Apparently It Is Australias Best Kept Secret, I Believe There Is A Population Of About Half A Million, And Towards The End Of The Ninties Most The Trades Left The Island For Better Money On The Mainland, But Now They Are Left With A Shortage Of Trades So The Money Is Better,( So I Have Been Told), I Believe The Climate Is Cooler Than The Rest Of Oz, But Still A Hell Of A Lot Better Than The U.k, I Hope This Helps.
It all depends on where u wish to work! and also the house prices as to where u want to live, we are moving to Forcett which is about 30 mins drive into Hobart, but we have the green as u say and also its quiet and the land is reasonably priced to. So are the houses but most ppl do tend to build their own houses as we are. I can tell u places not to go to like Rokbey and Lauderdale you have to stay away from these 2 places, if u want to keep ur car and its wheels !!!!! I lived in Tasmania a 23 years ago ( thats when i moved to the UK i was born in Hobart) and i went back there 3 years ago and i have to say it changed alot but saying that i think it had changed for the better. We had a good look round at different places while we where there and thats when i found out about Rokbey and Lauderdale! It was through family and we visited these places to and i have to say i wasnt impressed at all. Alot of the houses have the pickett fences ( well they are ment to but ppl keep knicking the wood to burn in the open fires for the front rooms to keep the house warm!!!!!!!!!!!) and there where broken down cars in the street that looked they had been there years.
But saying all that Tasmania does have some wonderful places to live. Forcett being one of them and many more that i could mention.
Thanks for that Summer, It would be appreciated if you could tell me about other areas to live, that would be suitable for an 8 year old child to make friends. I don't want to be totaly isolated but some land would be nice. How close are Rokbey and Lauderdale to these nice areas and do they have an effect on them ie. crime etc. Whats the work situation like, my wife is a hair dresser and i'm a CCTV technician, we thought about opening a hair salon. Also how easy is it for family to visit from the UK ie. flights. Sorry to ask so many questions but we are so undecided where to live, Perth, Tas, or NZ.
My family and I moved to Tasmania 06 and have never looked back. It is a great place to live for us and our 17 year old. Property is affordable over here the locals are friendly and the opportunities are there. There is little crime , no queues 20 or cars is a huge traffic jam Weather is Ok very hot at the moment but we have seasons and its not too cold either. It has a very even temperature. And from the amount of NSW, WA, and Victorian not to mention SA cars that are over here at the moment most are buying properties the secrets about Tasmania being a great place to live is getting out.
We have numerous excellant resturants which would put some of the expensive mainland resturants to shame, both for quality and price. Kingston were we live has everything DR's Pathology Unit, X-ray. plenty of junior schools and senior schools in fact Kingston is about to have a state of the art senior school built. supermarkets and currently a further 33 more shops which is in addition to the 2 small shopping centres.
Hobart boast an Orchestra. We have numerous artists and bands appearing at the Derwent Entertainment Centre (Joe Cocker in Feb) and the Casino. There has been a festival on throughout Christmas.and New Year. we have superb sports facilities, even Kingston has a sprorts centre and swimming pool.
Hobart has approx 190,000 not even as big as a large town in the UK.
Sorry I do go on a bit
Sally
Apart from how I feel about Tas, the only real advise to you is come over and have a look around it may not be everyones idea, but on saying that you dont know until you see for yourself and what I say or anyone else says about it . isnt you .
Sally
Hi we are moving to oz just finalissing flights. before we made the decision where to live we undertook 2 house swaps one near sydney (blue mountains) in the summer the other Brisbane winter mths both were very successful we also went to canberra/gosford during our time in sydney. Brisbane won But I highly recommend this especially if you have children
Thanks Sally It sounds like you love it there, have you had many friends or relatives vist yet? if you have how did they find the flights, where is it best to transfer from? I am assuming there are no direct uk flights! Do you think we will be able to find work ok I am a hairdresser and Steven is a technician sorry to ask so many questions thanks again. Kay
